Bustle



v (No Model.)

T. P'. TAYLOR.

.BUSTLIL Patented June 14, 1887.

UNITED, STATES PATENT u OFFICE.,

THOMAS P. TAYLOR, OF BRIDGEPOR'I, CONNECTICUT.

Buena.

SPECIFICATION forming part of L'eue'rs Patent No. 364,870, dated June i4, 1887.

y Application filed February 4, 1887. Serial No. 226,510, (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of bustles known to the trade as folding or collapsible bustles, and has for its object to producev a bustle that will collapse straight vinward when the wearer sits down, and instantly resume its normal position, carrying the clothing with it, when the wearer rises, the action of the bustle in collapsing and expanding being somewhat similar to that of an opera-hat, it being'ess'ential that the bustle shall yield readily when the-wearer sits down, shall have sufficient elasticity to resume its normal shape and position, carrying the clothing with it,

it is desirable that it shall not expand too quickly and with too much force.

With these ends in view I have devised the simple and novel construction of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

' Figure l is a perspective of the simplest form in which I have carried my invention into effect, showing it inV the expanded position; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the bustle in the collapsed position; Fig. 3, a view on a reduced scale looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a perspective illustrating a slight change in the details of construction, and also showing asupplemental hoop or ring which may be used in connection therewith.

The entire bustle, except the supplemental hoop or ring when used, is preferably made from a single piece of wire.

l denotes a cross-piece, which isv the center of the piece of wire of which the bustle is formed.

2 denotes eyes or coils at the ends of the cross-piece, and 3 ribs extending from the coils downward and then over, each end of the wire being attached to the same eye from which it complish the same result.-

obvious mechanical expedients, have not been started, as clearly shown. Coils in the exact form shown are of course not essential features of myinvention, as'bends in the wire or separate pieces attached would of course ac- These, being such illustrated in the drawings. The shape of the ribs is preferably an oval. The ribs cross each other at top and bottom, and each rib in the extended position lies at approximately an 7 is a strip of textile material connected at one end to the cross-piece, and having a loop, 8, at its opposite end, through which both ribs pass at their point of intersection at the top Vof the bustle. when the wearer rises, but at the same time 9denotesasupplementalhoo-p or ring,which, when used, passes through loops 6 and 8 at the bottom and top of the bustle. This hoop is held at its normal position when the bustle is in the expanded position by strips 10, extending from the opposite eyes and eyeleted to the hoop on opposite sides thereof, each strip being connected at its outer end to the rib on thesameside of the bustle as the eye to which its inner end is connected, and a slight bend, 11, being made in the ribs at the points where the strips are attached to prevent them from slip ping down on the ribs.

In the drawings I have illustrated two dif- I ferent modes by which the bustle may be thrown from its collapsed toits expanded position. In Fig. 1 the free ends of the ribs connect loosely with eyes or coils 2, and the bustle is expanded by means of an elastic strip, l2, which connects the two ribs at the extreme outer portion of their curves, bends ll being provided,so that the strips will be held in operative position. In practice eyes orcoils 2 -are formed in the same plane as the ribs which extend from them. In Fig. 4 I have shown the free ends of the ribs as passing through these eyes or coils, and then secured by coiling around the rib proper. It will be apparent that as the ribs are pressed inward from their expanded to their collapsed position the eyes or coils must be turned inward slightly. The torsion of the wire caused by twisting the eyes or coils is sufficient so that the instant the ribs are released from their collapsed position they will be thrown to their expanded position. Vheii the bustle is made in this manner, the elastic strip 12 may be dispensed with, although in practice both torsion and the elastic strip may be used, if preferred.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. A collapsible bustle eoiisisti ng of a crosspiece, diagonal ribs extending therefrom and crossing each other at top and bettoiii, strips ot` textile material, whereby the ribs are held iii position, and means, substantially as described, whereby they are returned to )lace after being collapsed;

2. A collapsible bustle consisting of a crosspiece having eyes or coils at its ends, diagonal ribs extending from said eyes, the free end of each rib returning to the eye from which it started, said ribs crossing each other at top and bottom, strips of textile material, whereby said ribs are held in place, and means (as an elastic strip between said ribs) whereby they are returned to their normal position when released after the bustle has been collapsed.

3. A collapsible bustle consisting of a crosspieee having eyes or coils at opposite ends, diagonal ribs extending i'i'om said coils, crossing each other at top and bottom, and returning to the coils from which they started, a strip extending between said eyes, a strip secured thereto and liaviug a loop at its oppo site end engaging both iibs at their point of intersection at the bottom, a strip connected to the cross-piece and having a loop at its opposite end engaging both ribs at their point ol" intersection at the top, and an elastic strip connecting the two ribs at the back, whereby the bustle is expanded. 1

et. A bustle consisting of a cross-piece, coils 2, diagonal ribs extending from said coils, crossing each other at top and bottoni, and returning to the'coils from which they started, strips 5 and 7, having loops G and 8, engaging the ribs at their points of intersection, a supple mental hoop passing through said ribs at the points of intersection of the ribs, strips 10, whereby the supplemental hoop is held in place, and elastic strip 12, whereby the bustle is thrown to and retained at its expanded position.

5. A collapsible bustle consisting of a crosspieee having eyes or coils at its opposite ends, diagonal ribs extending from said eyes in the same plane, crossing each other at top and bottoni, then returning and the ends passing through the eyes and coiled around the ribs, strips of textile material, whereby the ribs are held in position, and an elastic strip connecting the ribs at the back and acting, in connection with the eyes, to retnrii the ribs to their normal position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ATHOMAS l?. TAYLOR.

W'itnesses: l

A. M. VoosTnii, C. lf). RUGoLifzs. 

